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6 People Who Give the Best Love Advice

We are overloaded with advice, everywhere we turn. Everyone has an opinion; everyone has their experiences. But some people will be more straightforward, wise, helpful and, well, right, when you go to them with a problem. Here are 6 people you should talk to when you’re feeling torn, confused, or worried about your love life:

1. Married friends. I used to think my single friends were the best people to go to for dating advice because they, like me, were out in the field every day. Plus, I thought only they truly understood what it was like to be single at our age. But they’re still single, aren’t they? My married friends, on the other hand, are first-hand witnesses of male behavior on a daily basis. Time and again, I have found their advice to be life-changing and relationship-saving. They’ll tell you when to calm down, apologize, or play hard to get. Do not underestimate the wisdom of the marrieds.

2. Grandparents. They have perspective. They have like, 50 years on you. However, keep in mind that they do tend to simplify. You have to make adjustments or corrections for the fact that they’ve never sent a text message or possibly French kissed. Modern men (spoiled, selfish, slutty, childlike, and tech-savvy, in comparison) are much more complicated than the sweet soldier they met at the U.S.O. and married three days later.

3. His mother. I’ll tell ya, if anyone knows your boyfriend, it’s his mom. She may not know about his pot habit, but she knows when her son is happy, anxious, male PMS-ing, stressed, etc. I once had a boyfriend’s mother tell me how to play hard to get when he was considering moving to another city. I was shocked she was on my side.

4. School counselor/licensed therapist, etc. There’s nothing like government-subsidized or privately paid, objective advice. If you’re still in school and you think those counselors just sit around writing rec letters, think again. Part of their job description is to help you with personal and social development. They hear all kinds of stuff. You'd be surprised. So if you’re confused or unhappy or heartbroken, why not make their day more interesting? They are there to help.

5. Gynecologist. A friend of mine goes to her gyno for relationship advice. The doc once asked her if she needed to renew her birth control prescription, and it came out that she wasn’t having sex with her live-in boyfriend. Things had gone downhill. The doctor asked if she wanted to have sex. She paused, then said yes. The doc said: break up with this guy. She did and found someone better.

6. Love gurus. Some people don’t want to put stock in professional matchmakers or so-called experts. But honey, they have seen and heard it all 1,000 times. Much of the stuff they say seems so dead-on. As a journalist, I’ve interviewed dozens of these experts. My fave guru, of course, is the Millionaire Matchmaker (and author) Patti Stanger. Also seemingly wise beyond their years are authors Lori Gottlieb, Cathy Alter, and Sherry Argov. I could start a book club. Ooh—and don’t forget the books, He’s Just Not That Into You for dating advice and Men Are From Mars for relationship advice.

Who’s your go-to person for love, dating, or relationship advice? Who has helped and who was a dud?